An overall view of energy policy and actions

Reporting on the Commission communication "An overall view of energy policy and actions", Mr Umberto SCAPAGNINI felt that the Amsterdam Treaty did not provide a sound legal basis for actions in the energy sector. The Treaty focused Community obligations on the promotion of employment, the environment and the quality of life. The rapporteur called for energy policies to be brought together in a chapter on energy in the EC Treaty and for the Commission to include clear justification in its future energy proposals. It also needed to strengthen the role of the European Energy Observatory and to make regular assessments of the energy and environmental policies pursued by the Member States. The rapporteur drew attention to the importance of renewable energies and natural gas and the need for indirect Community research and development measures to give proper importance to innovative energy technologies without making citizens bear the cost. The nuclear sector should be developed in that it allows carbon dioxide emissions to be reduced. Finally, the rapporteur called for a framework programme for energy policy, transparency in this sector, proper information for the European Parliament and co-decision in this sector and deplored the drastic cuts in the Community energy budget.�